Meiler wins USATF Athlete of the Week after dominating performance at USATF Masters

7/23/2014

INDIANAPOLIS -- Eighty-year-old Masters athlete Florence Meiler has been named USATF’s Athlete of the Week after her impressive 14 event weekend; as she had broke several records at USATF Masters Outdoor Championships at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Meiler (Shelburne, Vermont) made Kentner Stadium her playground for the weekend, amassing eight gold medals and six silvers while setting World records in the pentathlon (4,319) and pole vault (1.65m/5-5). She also set American records in the hammer throw (22.30m/73-2), weight throw (9.09m/29-10), discus (18.36m/60-3), and high jump (1.02m/3-4)

“I just love keeping in shape,” Meiler said to Tommy Bowman of the Winston-Salem Journal. “A lot of people ask me how I keep doing this, and I say, ‘Well, it’s not that easy but you just keep going.’ It’s a wonderful feeling when people come up to you and tell you what an inspiration I am to them to get off the couch and be active.”

Tori Bowie, (Hattiesburg, Mississippi) won the women’s 100 meters at Monaco with a world-leading and personal best 10.80, her first race since injuring her leg at the US Outdoor Championships. The field included Allyson Felix and Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown and Shelly-Ann Frasor-Pryce.

Justin Gatlin, (Clermont, Florida) beat a stacked 200m field at the Monaco fast track that included Tyson Gay with a world leading, meet record, and personal best 19.68.

Molly Huddle, (Providence, Rhode Island) broke her American record in the 5000m by more than two seconds, finishing sixth in 14:42.64 at Monaco.

Irene Obera (Fremont, California) had several record breaking performances at USATF Masters Outdoors. The 80 year old set records in the 400m (1:39.92), 80m hurdles (19.77), long jump (2.94m/9-7.75), 100m (16.81), 200m hurdles (42.24) and 200m (36.80).

Now in its 13th year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on www.usatf.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

USA Track & Field is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the country’s No. 1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. For more information on USATF, visit http://www.usatf.org/.